"Healthy Athletes" Program Adds Dental Check-Ups for Special Olympics Participants at University of Richmond

RICHMOND, Va., June 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Each year, Special Olympics Virginia provides opportunities for physical and emotional achievement to intellectually and developmentally challenged children; this includes the eye, ear and general health screenings provided by local doctors for the athletes through its Healthy Athletes program. For the 2011 Special Olympics Summer Games in Richmond, Healthy Athletes will expand its healthcare services to include dental screenings for the participating athletes. Richmond's Healthy Athletes program, funded by a variety of local organizations including the Richmond Eye and Ear Foundation, will offer the free healthcare screenings at the Robins Center on the University of Richmond Campus between 10am and 5pm on June 11th.

"The Special Olympics Summer Games in Richmond typically hosts about 1,200 athletes each year," said Dr. Edwin Wortham V, board certified ophthalmologist at Virginia Pediatric Ophthalmology Specialists and advocate of the Special Olympics. "This year, Healthy Athletes fully expects to screen 800 of those athletes, especially with the new dental opportunities."

Special Olympics is the largest public health program in the world for people with intellectual disabilities and its Healthy Athletes program has offered its services at local and regional Special Olympics events, as well as the World Games for ten years. The Richmond Healthy Athletes program has provided screenings to over 1,300 athletes in the last two years. The healthcare screenings are made possible by the donations from local healthcare organizations such as Richmond Eye and Ear Foundation, which has provided funding for four years. This year, Virginia's Special Olympics Summer Games will be held at the University of Richmond on June 10th and 11th, and allow the athletes to compete in swimming, power lifting, softball, track & field, bowling and tennis.

For more information about the Healthy Athletes program of Special Olympics Virginia and its healthcare screenings on June 11th from 10am-5pm at University of Richmond's Robins Center, please contact Dave Saunders at 804-521-4141.

About Stony Point Surgery Center

Stony Point Surgery Center is Central Virginia's pre-eminent outpatient surgical facility. Founded in the tradition of the former Richmond Eye and Ear Hospital, Stony Point Surgery Center leads the industry in innovative hearing and vision corrective treatments. Stony Point Surgery Center provides a broad spectrum of routine and special healthcare services in addition to its specialization in Vision and Hearing practices. For more information about Stony Point Surgery Center, please visit their website at www.StonyPointSC.com.

SOURCE Stony Point Surgery Center